Dekalb County Public Works & Infrastructure Committee Meeting - February 17, 2026

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee met on February 17, 2026, at 2:30 PM, chaired by Commissioner Robert Patrick, joined by Committee Member Shakira Johnson and Commissioner Terry (Super District 6). The meeting covered approvals of contracts and change orders, a resolution on environmental equity near the landfill, a presentation on the upcoming Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Watershed Management, and a budget overview for several departments. Key actions included approvals for a crane/hoist maintenance contract and a revised, reduced-cost consent decree sewer contract, while a stormwater contract was deferred for further review.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Item 2026-0325: The minutes from the February 3rd PWI committee meeting were approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Stormwater System Cleaning Contracts (Agenda Item 2026-0337): A change order to increase contract funds for stormwater system cleaning and video inspection services, totaling $2,936,060, was discussed. Because it was close to the $3 million threshold, the item was deferred to the next meeting for further review by Central Staff (Mr. Lavois Campbell).
• Partial Abandonment of Water/Sewer Easement (Agenda Item 2026-0291): Director Wells presented a proposal to abandon a water and sewer easement on Stewart Road in Doraville. The easement was originally needed for a former apartment complex; since the property was demolished and redeveloped, the easement is no longer needed. The item will proceed to a public hearing. Commissioner Johnson noted the public hearing was already scheduled.
• Cooperative Agreement for Crane and Hoist Maintenance (Agenda Item 2026-0129): A cooperative agreement with Cobb County (Contract 24-6811) for inspection, service, and repair of overhead cranes/hoists for the Department of Watershed Management was approved unanimously. The total amount is not to exceed $300,000. Director Wells explained the agreement ensures maintenance of heavy equipment and overhead cranes at watershed plants.
• Consent Decree Sewer Condition Assessment (Agenda Item 2025-1265, Substitute): A substitute for a contract performing consent decree sewer assessments and urgent repairs was approved. Director Wells reported that after a two-week referral, the department worked with Audit and Procurement to achieve savings. Unit pricing was reduced and the contract was reapportioned 60/40 between winning bidders Kemi Construction and Southeast Pipe Survey. The new total is $44.8 million—a reduction of about $4.8 million from the original $49.75 million item. Commissioner Terry noted the savings came from re-examining unit pricing.
• Resolution for Environmental Equity Near Landfill (Agenda Item 2025-1787): Commissioner Terry presented a resolution to enhance environmental equity and sanitation practices for residents near the Seminole Road Landfill. The plan includes a staggered sanitation fee discount (50% for 0–0.5 miles, 35% for 0.5–1 mile, 20% for 1–1.5 miles, 10% for 1.5–2 miles) and an air purifier/HVAC filter rebate program for homes within a two-mile radius. GIS data shows about 4,482 households in that radius. The estimated cost for discounts is under $400,000; filter rebates are estimated at $250,000. Commissioner Terry argued the resolution is needed to compensate for odor nuisances and that revenue from a composting facility could offset costs. Discussion included questions about the landfill's age (built in the 1980s), concerns about the stability of the sanitation fund, and a request to study the impact on property values. The landfill's composting study is 50% complete, and results are expected end of April. Commissioner Johnson requested a more definite financial breakdown. The item was deferred to the second meeting in May to align with the composting study results.
• Watershed Management 2026 CIP Presentation: Director Wells and staff from the Department of Watershed Management presented an overview of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) process, focusing on the 10x10 plan ($4.27 billion over 10 years). Highlights included: a cleanup from the 2024 CIP, with $221 million spent in 2025 (vs. a plan of $268 million). Over $460 million in contracts/change orders have been approved since the last CIP. A new Program Management Plan (PMP) framework was introduced, built on four pillars: governance, planning, delivery, and assurance, to standardize project prioritization and avoid reactive decision-making. A specific project discussed was the 60-inch water transmission main (4 phases, ~$278M for Phase B), routed from North Lake Mall to the VA hospital, which will replace four miles of aging 30-inch concrete pipe, saving $40–45 million. A later strategy comparison showed that replacing two 30-inch mains with two 48-inch mains (instead of one 60-inch main) would save $150–200 million over 20 years while providing more capacity—allowing the county to take a major transmission main out of service without losing water for the whole county. The department also noted an asset management program scoring all water/sewer pipes by risk; 400 project packages have been identified, with only 80 covered in the current 10-year CIP.
• FY 2027 Budget Discussion: Budget Director TJ presented proposed budgets for six funds. Notable changes: Roads & Drainage speed humps maintenance: $631,000 (+4% due to contract increases). Sanitation: ~4% increase (by about $4 million) due to higher operating costs and debt service. Streetlight fund: $2 million increase (+43%), as it has been subsidized for 2–3 years. A user fee study is underway for new rates. Watershed Management: 19% increase (~$57 million) due to rate increases and capital funding. A connected fund (Transportation Designated) shows a $1.5 million decrease because the subsidy to streetlights is being removed.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda Item 2026-0337 (Stormwater Change Order): Deferred to next meeting.
• Agenda Item 2026-0129 (Crane Maintenance Co-op): Approved unanimously.
• Agenda Item 2025-1265 (Consent Decree Sewer Contract): Approved as substitute (reduced to $44.8 million).
• Agenda Item 2025-1787 (Environmental Equity Resolution): Deferred to second meeting in May.
• Watershed CIP Presentation: Noted; further presentations on infrastructure will be given at future meetings.
• Budget Discussion: Informational; further work will be done to refine numbers (e.g., debt service adjustments for sanitation).
• Meeting Adjourned: 5:12 PM.